MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) - There will be fewer defendants and fewer charges than the first time when the state's gambling corruption retrial begins Monday.
Six people, including two former and one current state senator, are accused of trading campaign contributions for votes on pro-gambling legislation. Eleven people were originally charged in October 2010. Since then Country Crossing casino developer Ronnie Gilley and lobbyist Jarrod Massey pleaded guilty.
In the original trial that wrapped up in August 2011, Senator Quinton Ross and lobbyist Robert Geddie were acquitted of all charges. The jury returned not guilty verdicts on 91 counts and hung on another 33.
Former legislative analyst Ray Crosby was found dead in his Montgomery home January 29th, the day before the retrial was set to begin. It was pushed back a week and Crosby's single remaining bribery county was tossed out following his death. The medical examiner ruled his death a result of natural causes.
Below are the remaining defendants (courtesy of the
Dothan Eagle):
1. Milton McGregor: Owner of the VictoryLand casino. McGregor still faces charges of conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery in an alleged offer of $1 million in public relations business to Sen. Scott Beason, two additional bribery counts in the alleged offer of campaign donations to then-Sens. Larry Means and Jim Preuitt in exchange for a pro-gambling vote, bribery in the alleged payment of $42,000 to former legislative analyst Ray Crosby, and nine counts of honest services wire fraud.
2. Tom Coker: Lobbyist for McGregor. Coker still faces charges of conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery in the alleged offer of campaign support to Preuitt in exchange for a pro-gambling vote and one count of honest services wire fraud.
3. Larry Means: Former state senator from Etowah County. Means still faces a charge of conspiracy, and a bribery count in which prosecutors allege Means sought $100,000 in exchange for his pro-gambling vote.
4. Jim Preuitt: Former state senator from Talladega. Preuitt still faces a charge of conspiracy, one count of bribery in which prosecutors allege he agreed to accept $2 million in campaign support for his pro-gambling vote, and one count of making a false statement to FBI investigators.
5. Harri Anne Smith: State senator from Slocomb. Smith still faces a charge of conspiracy, bribery in connection with what prosecutors say was an agreement to accept $400,000 in campaign donations from Gilley in exchange for help with pro-gambling legislation, two counts of honest services wire fraud and four counts of money laundering.
6. Jay Walker: Former Country Crossing spokesperson. Walker still faces a charge of conspiracy and a single count of bribery in connection with an alleged offer of $2 million in campaign help to Preuitt.
